Final answer:
The device that operates at the Data Link layer to pass frames between nodes is a Virtual Switch. It is Layer 2 of the OSI model and operates similarly to a physical switch but in a virtual environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The virtual, logically defined device that operates at the Data Link layer to pass frames between nodes is a Virtual Switch. At the Data Link layer, which is Layer 2 in the OSI model, a virtual switch functions just like a physical switch but is implemented in software. It is responsible for forwarding frames based on MAC addresses and for segmenting network traffic into different collision domains or virtual LANs (VLANs).